Where to install car seat?

SarahKate31 · April 2011

I know that the middle seat is supposed to be the safest for car seats. But I've also heard that it may not work depending on how the middle seat is shaped, and also LATCH is usually only on the side seats.

So I'm just curious, where did you install your car seat? Middle or side?

daisyterp · April 2011

When it was just one we did passenger side, because we were lazy. Knowing what I know now, if I were to do over I would do the middle seat (in our car where that is an option,) even if it meant not using the LATCH. LATCH does not equal safest. W/ the infant carrier & base putting the base in the middle seat using the seatbelt isn't tough.

jcsntms06 · April 2011

In both our vehicles (Honda Accord Coupe and Pilot) DD carseat is in the middle. Both vehicles have the latch system. Now in my aunts car, the carseat in on the passenger side, she also has the latch system, but it's was easier for her to have the carseat on the side.

KissyFishyLips · April 2011

We put ours in the middle (we have LATCH there). It's nice because if someone parks too close on one side, I can just as easily get the car seat in from the other side. Depending on your car though, if it's in the middle you might not be able to push the driver seat and passenger seat back as far as you like.

mrs. remy · April 2011

Middle in both vehicles. DH's car has LATCH, mine does not.

FieryIrishAngel · April 2011

In my Elantra it had to go on the side. That back seat was just way too small for me to have to climb around to get her in and out - I'd have even more back problems than I do now. But it was a midget car.

She's still on the side in the Rav4, but that's more out of habit. I need to replace her carseat from the accident (we're using the one from my Mom's car right now), and when I do, that may go in the middle.

tmm140 · April 2011

We tried the center but it didn't work. We have to have it behind the passengers side--mainly because you cant put the seat all the way back and DH is REALLY tall, so I can comfortably sit up front.

Mella&T · April 2011

We put ours in the middle of my CR-V (has the latch). No experience with it yet obviously but I don't see it causing any problems. Not sure where it will go in DH's Mazda 6, but we're not installing that one for at least a few weeks.

KrisMomma · April 2011

It has to go on the side in my car because LATCH isn't in the middle.

kelleymark82606 · April 2011

Mine is on the passengers side. I don't believe it even fits in the center latch or not, I think the way the seat is made it has to go on the side, but I could be wrong. Regardless the latch system is on the side and that is where I've used it.

ThePastor'sWife · April 2011

We had to install both of ours on the passenger side. I drive an '07 Civic and I'm 5'8" (but my height is all in my legs), so the only option for the driver's seat to be where it needs to be for me to comfortably drive is to have it out of the way of the driver's seat. DH is taller than me, and occasionally drives my car, so it would have had to be in that position anyway for him even if I hadn't needed it there. DH's car is an '06 Odyssey w/captain's chairs in the middle row, so we didn't even have a middle seat option in that... and we just randomly chose the passenger's side there; no particular reason.

We do use LATCH in both cars b/c it's there, and it does make installing the infant base REALLY easy. Didn't really make a difference w/the convertible seats, though - those things were a beast to get installed properly.

ShandaB · April 2011

I have to have carseat installation training every year for work and every year they tell us to put the seat in the middle because it's safer. The government cars also have latches in the middle so we're also told to make sure to latch the seat as well. Most newer cars are able to latch in the middle.

erikaph · April 2011

In our Volvo wagon, we started out putting the car seat in the middle. We have a Britax marathon, and had to lenghten the LATCH straps so that we could use the hooks from the two window seats.

Now that she's 3.5, it is WAY to hard to put her in the middle, so she's on the passenger side.

daisyterp · April 2011

erikaph:
In our Volvo wagon, we started out putting the car seat in the middle. We have a Britax marathon, and had to lenghten the LATCH straps so that we could use the hooks from the two window seats.

FYI Most car manufacturers do not endorse the use of the side latch clips for use in the middle seat position. This post by the car seat lady has a good explanation of why and what cars you shouldn't do this in.

https://www.thecarseatlady.com/vehicles/the_latch_system_10.html

junebugrbig · April 2011

Couldn't get the middle to work in either car so it on the side now. This will work out fine once #2 is born. Both will have to be on the side.

BunintheOven311 · April 2011

I have a Civic and we installed it in the middle. It fits just fine and DH who is 6'1 can slide the seat back to where he normally does. We had ours installed and inspected at the Susquehana Spine Rehab place in Har co..they were super helpful in giving all the info you need and will inspect your install and then will teach you how to do it properly. It was hard to get it so tight it took both me and the car seat person in the car to do it right. They did it for free so that worked for me!

https://www.bnisuccesspartners.com/AboutOurChapter/OurMembers/HarfordCountyChiropractor.aspx

anonsouthernbell · April 2011

Infant seat was installed in the middle. We installed the convertible seat on the side.

snoopy5512 · April 2011

One thing to REALLY REALLY point out is that you should read the specific manual in your car to see what they recommend as well. Some cars say NOT to use middle since the seat is raised. Ours are now installed on the passenger side.

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